Automobile controlling apparatus



F. G. PECK -AUTOMOBILE CONTROLLING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 8, 1920 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 11, 11924 I mmwfi Jam. 1, 11924- HA'ZQMU F. G. PECK AUTOMOBILE CONTROLLING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 8, 1920' 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan 1, 1924 F. G. PECK AUTOMOBILE CONTROLL ING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 8, 1920 a Sfieets-Sheet 3 mumm Patented Jan. 1, 1924.

UNET

theme FRANK Gr. BECK, 0F LEWISTON, MAINE.

AUTOMOBILE CONTROLLING APPARATUS.

Application filed December 8, 1920. Serial No. 429,054.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatI, FRANK G. PEoK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lewiston, in the county of Androscoggin and State of Maine, have invented certain Improvements in Automobile Controlling Apparatus, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like reference characters on the drawings indicating like parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to mechanisms for controlling the operation of automobiles, and it has for its chief object to devise an apparatus with which a person who has suffered the loss or impairment of use of his feet or legs can operate an automobile with ease and safety.

The manner in which it is proposed to accomplish this object will be readily understood from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an apparatus embodying the invention in the form at present preferred;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the opposite side of the apparatus from that shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The construction shown in the drawings comprises a hand lever 2 fulcrumed on abolt 3 which is supported in the vertical part i of a stationary bracket. This bracket also is provided with a horizontal portion 5, Fig. 3, to which are bolted two feet 6 and 7, respectively, that are designed to be secured to the floor of the car, these feet having an.

angular formation adapted to fit on the inclined portion of the floor and support the bracket 4 in a substantially vertical position.

The bracket 4 supports a horizontal rock shaft 8 on which are loosely mounted two arms 9 and 10, respectively- The arm 9 is designed to bear on the clutch pedal of the automobile, while the arm 10 is provided with a slot 11 to receive one edge of the brake pedal. Both of these arms rock freely on the shaft 8 and they are normally held in a raised position by the springs that act through the pedals.

For the purpose of depressing the mem her 9 to release the clutch, this member is provided with a cam surface 12 which cooperates with a cam 14 formed on the end of a short arm 15 which is adjustably secured to the hand lever 2. That is, this arm is secured to the lever 2 by a bolt 16 so that it can rock relatively to the lever, and it is provided with two ears 1717 which are drilled and tapped to receive set screws 18-18 that bear against the opposite sides of the lever 2. It will thus be seen that by-turning the screws 18-18 in the proper directions the cam arm 15 can be angularly adjusted with reference to the hand lever 2. Y

The connections between the brake pedal operating member 10 and the hand lever 2 comprises a toothed sector 20 keyed on the shaft 8 and meshing with another sector 21 which is formed on the lower end of the hand lever. A backward movement of the hand lever thus rocks the shaft 8 about'its axis and this movement is transmitted to the member 10 by means of a set screw 22, Figs. 2 and 3, which is threaded through an arm 23 projecting from a collar 24 secured fast to the rock shaft 8. A reverse movement imparted to the handlever will rotate the rock shaft 8 in the reverse direction and during this movement the arm 10 will be held in engagement with the set screw 22 by the brake pedal spring until the brake pedal has moved to the backward limit of its movement when the set screw will leave the arm 10.

It will now be understood that in using the apparatus, when the driver wishes to throw out the clutch, it is merel necessary for him to pull the hand lever 2 fiackwardly far enough to cause the arm 9 to force the clutch pedal down practically to the lower limit of its movement. Ifit is desired then to apply the brake, it is merely necessary to pull the handle 2 further backward, this movement being transmitted through the sectors 20 and 21 to the rock shaft 8 and thence through the adjusting screw 22 to the member 10. The cam face 12 on the clutch pedal operating member 9 is so formed that no appreciable movement of this member takes place during the operation of applying the brake. Upon a forward movement of the hand lever 2 a reversal of the operations above described is effected, the brake being first released and the clutch afterwards being let in.

For the purpose of enabling the driver to III iii)

hold the clutch depressed for a substantial eriod of time, as for instance while the car is coasting, or to hold both the clutch and brake pedals in, if that should be desired, the handle 2 has a dog 25 pivoted thereto at 26 and arranged to engage a toothed sector 27 which is secured to the upper part of the bracket 4. T he dog normally is held out of contact with the teeth on this sector by means of a spring 28' which is connected at one end to the handle 2 and its opposite end to link 29 that is piroted to one end of the dog. A hand piece 30 pivoted both to the lever 52 and also to the link 29 enables the driver to throw the into one c ement with the teeth of the sector 2? whenever he wishes to hold the er in its backward position. The toothed sector 27 and a parallel curved member 82 lying beside it but spaced from it, and also secured to the arms that project from the upper part of the bracket 4, provide between them a guideway for the hand lever 2 and give it lateral support.

it will now be understood that this invention provides a very simple form of ap paratus with which an easy and eticctivc hand control is afforded for the clutch and brake pedals oi an automobile, and that this apparatus enables driver to exercise prac tically the same control over an automobile through a hand operation that usually obtained by the feet.

the spirit or scope of this invention. For instance, the set screw 22 is not needed when the apparatus is applied to some cars since the brake pedal can be adjusted suiliciei'itly to provide the necessary adjustment between the arm 23 and the member 10.

What is claimed as new is: p

1. A hand controlling apparatus for automobiles, comprising, in combination, a hand lever, independent members for operating the clutch and brake pedals, a cam arranged to be moved by said lever for operating said clutch pedal operating member, a shaft connected with said lever to be rocked ll'icreby, and a lost motion betweensaid rock shall and said brake pedal operating menilt will also be under stood that the apparatus may be modified in many particulars without departing from 1,4.79,ooe

her for operating the latter alter the clutch pedal has been operated.

2. A hand controlling apparatus for automobiles, comprising, in combination, a handlever, a clutch pedal operating member, a brake pedal operating member, a rock shaft on which said members are mounted to osciilate, connections between said shaft and. lever for rocking the shaft, a cam connected with said lever for operating one of said members, and a connection between said rocl;

shaft and the other of said members for operating the latter member. I

A hand controlling apparatus for automobiles, comprising, in combination, a rand lever, a clutch pedal operating member, a brake pedal operating member, a rock shaft on which said members are mounted to oscillate, a 138211 connection between said lever and rock shaft for operating the rock shaft, a cam adjustably connected with said lever for operating said clutch pedal OQ-Ql'tlilllg member, and a part movable with said rock shaft for operating said brake pedal operating member.

A he id controlling apparatus for automobiles, com n'ising, in combination, a hand lever, a clutch pedal operating member, a

brake pedal operating; member, and connec- (ions between said lever and said members on which said members are mounted to 0s cillate, a gear connection between said lever and rock shalt ror operating the rock shaft, a cam adpistably connected with said lever III for operating said clutch pedal operating 7 member, and an adjustable lost motion conncc'tion between said rock shaft and said brake pedal operating member.

In testimony whereoi l have signed my name to this specification.

FRANK G. PECK. 

